No images found for this plant ID: 1808.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "1808" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
desert false indigo
Scientific Name: Amorpha fruticosa
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Desert False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa)
The desert false indigo, scientifically known as Amorpha fruticosa, is a shrub with several common names, including indigo bush, false indigo-bush, and bastard indigobush.
Considerations for Pets
- This plant is a shrub and can form dense thickets.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Amorpha fruticosa L.
- Family: Fabaceae (Pea family)
- Subfamily: Faboideae
- Synonyms: Amorpha angustifolia, Amorpha bushii, Amorpha croceolanata, Amorpha curtissii, Amorpha dewinkeleri, Amorpha occidentalis
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to North America.
- Found in Santa Margarita, CA and Minnesota.
- Also found in France, Camargue.
Ecological Role
- Considered a perennial invasive species in Oregon.
- Class B Weed.
- Species of genus Amorpha are legumes. Most legume species harbor beneficial bacteria.
Morphological Characteristics
- Grows from 3 to 5 meters (approximately 10 to 16 feet) tall.
- Described as a 6-10 ft., loose, airy shrub which often forms dense thickets.
Other Characteristics
- Perennial.
- Soil pH 6.1- 8.5.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The Desert False Indigo influences the growth of Populus ussuriensis seedlings inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM).
Quirky Facts
- Desert false indigo contains some indigo pigment that can be used to make blue dye.
Further Information
- Discover Life's page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution of Amorpha fruticosa.